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The city grates on me. There isn't a time when I am not looking for a chance to escape the grime and pollution. And, like me, a majority of individuals born and brought up amid the bustle of vehicles and the fast-paced life take the city for granted. Yet, for a large section of people who now live in places like Bombay and Delhi -- the city holds a much deeper meaning. The key to their futures. A way to realise their dreams.

"Any place where there are so many things happening will attract people," says Ajitha Donald. Ajitha, who came to Bombay when she was just 21, is part of a much larger crowd. Of youth in their thousands who make their way to the city in search of a better life, of better career options, of their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Ajitha is from Chhapra, a small town in Bihar. She came to Bombay to make a place for herself in her chosen career. When she arrived she knew no one, and had to live for sometime at the home of a priest who was an acquaintance of a friend. But, for Ajitha, the aspect of knowing no one was not frightening. Her determination to achieve her dream kept her going.

"I came with a lot of uncertainty," says Ajitha, "but I had no fears. I lived with this priest for two weeks -- after that I was on my own. But it was travelling within Bombay that was more daunting. Especially since one did not know the stations or where one was headed."

Jayanta, who made his way from Assam at the same age, agrees, "Even though I am a guy, it is still frightening to be on your own in a city like Bombay. When I came here, I didn't know where I was going to stay. I just got into a cab and asked the driver to take me to a cheap place. He wasn't such a bad guy; he drove me to Borivli (in suburban Bombay) where I checked into a broken down guesthouse. The rooms were barely furnished, there were no locks on the doors. And a horrible stench came from the common toilet," he shudders.

Jayanta, an engineer, left his hometown in search of a bigger dream -- of making it in the world of music. "I wanted to make my own music, but I didn't know how I was going to go about making a name for myself. The industry in Bombay is hard, but I believed in myself. I have been composing my own music from a very young age," he says. "After coming here, I realised that nobody else believes in you and, unless you have the right contacts, don't expect to get in. I have had thousands of doors closed on me; you need to passionately believe in yourself if you want to make it."

The city may burst with opportunities, but actually getting work isn't a breeze. And yet, the city continues to attract people. "The opportunities are endless," says 25-year-old Seema Pant, who hails from Lucknow. "I knew I could make a better life for myself here."

"I had tried to get a job in Kerala and Madras," says Chandan Shridhar who made a transition to Delhi from Kottayam. "The fact is, these places are just not developed career-wise and I couldn't get the kind of employment I needed to further my career in journalism. I knew Delhi was a booming place for journalists, but I didn't have the experience. I just knew to wanted a job."

Though Chandan had the financial support of his parents, he was eager to break out on his own. He remembers how he had to pile on to a friend of a friend. Someone he had never met. "My train was 12 hours late. When I reached Delhi, there was no signs of this guy. But I had his address and made my way to his house. When I reached, there it was locked. I waited for three hours for him."

Chandan had three days to find his own accommodation, which he found with two other boys. But it was far from comfortable. "We were three people sharing a room," he says, "with no space or ventilation." And this was only the beginning. Finding a job proved to be a more daunting task. "It took me three months to land myself a third grade job."

He spent hours knocking on doors and waiting in lobbies only to be told, "We will get back to you."

"As far as jobs are concerned, nobody is willing to give you a chance. After months of searching, I got a job with a magazine which printed 500 copies and paid me a salary of Rs 1,500." Lack of experience, he feels, wasn't the only reason that prevented him from getting a job. "There is a lot of sexual discrimination in cities. It is easier for a girl to get a job."

For people who aren't used to the hustle and bustle of city life - to the travel, the attitudes, the food -- there are more than a few adjustments to be made. However, adjusting is not an obstacle for people who persevere.

For Chandan, travelling in Delhi's crowded buses was "pure torture". For others, the adjustment was even more tough. Twentytwo-year-old Jessica Menezes arrived in Bombay early this year. For her, the first month was full experiences she will never forget. "I was really innocent when I came from Goa. But I was keen to do well for myself. My first job was selling cosmetics, door-to-door. I find people in Bombay very distrustful; they would never open the door. Some threatened to have me arrested. And some of the men even made sexual advances."

But, despite these experiences, she loves the city. "There are things to do. There is nothing routine about Bombay. You learn to adjust and, once you get used to life here, there is no turning back."

Twentynine-year-old Gladys Parnell, who also hails from Goa, agrees with Jessica, "There is so much you can do in a city. It is full of opportunities, both professionally and socially." Gladys, who was based in Delhi as an air hostess for ModiLuft, found herself jobless when the airline shut down. But it didn't put her off from moving immediately to Bombay in search of new opportunities. However, she admits that, once you get here, "Things don't always go as planned. The main problem is accommodation. You can't stay with relatives forever and it's very difficult -- not to mention expensive -- to find a place to stay."

Ajitha, too, identifies with the accommodation problem. "I remember I had to contact brokers, who only seemed to give me a bad deal. One place I saw in Santa Cruz belonged to a family with 2 or 3 children. There were only 2 rooms and absolutely no furniture, but I was so desperate that I agreed to take it. A friend who was with me at the time cried and advised me to return home."

Jayanta had an experience of a different kind -- he could not find a place to stay because "people didn't want a musician around. They thought I was on drinks and drugs."

For others, smaller aspects like food took some getting used to. "Being a north Indian, I don't like the food so much. Besides, Bombay is very communal. People always seem to be pushing or defending their religions, thinking it is the best. That's sad," says Seema.

Apart from the minute details, though, they all agree on one thing. The city is where it's all at. "Careerwise, it's the greatest," enthuses Jessica. Says Ajitha, "The city has a certain amount of flexibility that is lacking in other places. If I did not make it in journalism, I could always branch into PR. Also Bombay has a booming television and film industry. If I had to do it again, I would have come here earlier. It would have given me much more exposure."

"It's definitely a happening city," says the now established Jayanta. "Persistence pays," says Chandan. "You have to want it badly enough." For Ajitha, it is "focus. If you are not focused about what you want, you simply drift." "Determination" is how Gladys puts it.

But does the attraction last? For most, it does. "If something good comes up, I will settle here," says Seema.

"I am pleased with my life," says Ajitha. "I have a good job. Things have worked out, so I can only see myself staying on."

For others though, home is where they belong. Says Chandan, "Once I have established myself, I am convinced I can work from Kottayam. Until then, I will remain here."

Like these, every day, there are people making their way to the cities. To carve out a life for themselves. To be at the centre of it all. As for the city -- it accepts. Amid the cross cultures and chaos, the pace and the pollution. After all, everyone belongs in a city.

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